Centrifugal governor



Patented May 19, 1953 CENTRIFUGAL GOVERNOR John C. Winslow and iClinton R. Boothby, Toledo, Ohio Application February 24, 1949, Serial No. 78,106

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to centrifugal governors, more particularly to centrifugally actuated devices for actuating switches for controlling electrical devices.

The invention contemplates the provision of a centrifugally actuated control device which will actuate switches at predetermined speeds of rotation whereby control of electrical devices may be obtained.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a centrifugally actuated switch control device which is readily adjustable and which is suitable for mass production.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a centrifugally actuated electrical control device wherein the switch devices are positioned in a sealed chamber to protect them from contamination which will affect the efficiency of such devices.

It is, therefore, a principal vobject of this invention to provide a centrifugally controlled device adapted to actuate an electrical switching device controllable Within relatively wide limits.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a centrifugally operated switching device, wherein the switching device is positioned within a sealed chamber to prevent ingress of foreign matter which will affect the eiiiciency of the switching device.

It is a. further object of this invention to provide a centrifugally operated switching device which is suitable for mass production.

Other objects and advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawing:

' Fig. I is a sectional elevation of one modification;

Fig. II is a sectional elevation of another modiiication; and

Fig, III is a perspective view of one of the weights.

Referring to the drawing, particularly to Fig. I, a cup-shaped housing IIJ is shown, having a threaded boss I2 at its bottom, by which the housing is adapted tobe attached to a driving means (not shown) which has a rotating element 2 (not shown) whose speed of rotation controls the action of the centrifugal device to be described hereinafter. The rotating element is adapted to drive a central shaft I4, journaled concentrically in the boss I2 'by bearing sleeve I6 by means-of tongue I8 cooperating therewith. At its outer end, the shaft I4 is provided with a collar 2U keyed thereto by pin 22 to prevent undue end play, and at its inner` end, where the shaft ex-v tends into the housing l0, a circular plate 24 is fitted thereto against a shoulder 26 on the shaft, being firmly attached by any convenient means as by brazing, so that the plate rotates within the housing with the shaft. The shaft is provided with a felt oil-seal device 30 between the end of the bearing sleeve I6 and the plate 24 positioned in a counterbore 32 of the boss I2. An anti-friction plate 34 is provided between the plate 24 and the bottom of the housing which is undercut adjacent the side to provide a clearance 36 as shown.

The plate 24 is provided with spaced periph# eral slots 38 which cooperate with teeth 40 formed on the lip of an inner rotating cup 42 whose outside diameter is the same as the diameter of the plate 24, both .being slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the housing I to provide an annular clearance therebetween. The rotating cup 42 is permanently attached to the plate 24 by turning in the teeth 40 to grip the lower side of the plate 24, clearance being provided by the undercut 36 for rotation of the cup as already described. The shaft I4 extends concentrically into the rotating cup 42 a substantial distance, 'being of reduced diameter and is provided with a threaded section 44 adjacent the plate 24 and `at its terminating end is provided with a reduced cylindrical section 4S which functions as a seat for a stop sleeve 48, which will be described further hereinafter.

The rotating cup 42 extends concentrically with the shaft I4 and the inner side of the housing II), so that its bottom 42A is positioned a substantial distance to the left of the enlarged lip IUA of the housing I0. The bottom 42A is provided with a central aperture 42B, through which projects a switch actuating member 50 from the inside of the cup 42 wherein is located the centrifugally actuated device cooperating with the switch actuating member 50. The switch actuating member 50 is an elongated sleeve slidably tting on the exterior of the stop sleeve 48 already described, and is fitted with an integral external collar 52 positioned slightly inside of the bottom of the rotating cup 42 so `as region of the bottom 42A of the rotating cup 42,

where the bottom is jointed to the side of the ,Y

cup. The bottom 42A forms a stop for the weights 60 by cooperating with their bases. The

cup 42 being xed, excepting for slight end play against longitudinal movement, and being permanently affixed to the shaft I4 with which it rotates, any outward movement of theV weights 60 about their respective fulcrums 62 will tend to thrust the star spring 54 toward the left, carrying with it the sleeve 50 to which it is affixed. Preferably eight sectional weights Gil are' provided, roughly forming a sectional conical annulus within the cup 42.

The leftward movement of the sleeve 5B is resisted by a helical loading spring 64 which is coiled about the sleeve to the left of the collar 5;'

52 which provides a seat for one end of the spring 64. The other end of the spring is seated against a collar 66 integrally formed on the exterior of a nut 68 fitted on the threaded section 44 of the shaft |4 immediately adjacent the plate 24. The

nut 68 is provided with a fiber-locking washer .l0 seated in a recess 'l2 of the nut and locked therein by inturned lip 14. The nut 68 with its fiber Washer 10, may be positioned at any point on the threaded section 44 by rotation thereof by a if,

special means to be further described hereinafter, and which is substantially locked at such position by the frictional grip on the threads by the ber washer l0, having an action similar to that employed in a lock-nut which is well known in the y.

art. In this manner, any desired compressive force within the range of the device can be placed upon the spring 64 to thereby predetermine the reactive forces t0 be overcome by the centrifugal :forces acting on the weight 60 under rotation,

which, therefore, controls the speed of rotation necessary to obtain the forces to overcome the resistance of the spring 64 to move the sleeve 50 toward the left. y

The nut 68 is threaded on the section 44 before stop sleeve 43 is positioned on the cylindrical section 46 and the stop sleeve 48, being of slightly larger diameter than the threaded section 44, forms a stop for the nut 6B which will prevent disengagement thereof at the forward end. At the rearward end, the nut is stopped adjacent the plate 24. The stop sleeve 48 is preferably pinned to the cylindrical section 46 by transverse pin 16 which is made flush with the exterior surface of the sleeve so as not to interfere with the 1ongitudinal movement of elongated sleeve 50 there- 0n by the centrifugal action of the weights 60 or the force of the reactive spring B4. The weights 00 are forced against the bottom 42A, which acts as a stop when the device is at rest, by the reaction of the spring S4. The weights 60 are free to rotate as a conical annulus within the cup so as to prevent disruptive forces at the fulcrum under sudden acceleration or deceleration.

The right or forward end of the elongated sleeve 5d is provided with a carbon or resin button 78 which is seated on a metal plate 80 fitted on an inner shoulder 82 formed by an undercut in the sleeve end. The lip 84 of the sleeve is inturned to hold the button 18 in position with a reduced portion 78A extending forwardly beyond the end for the purpose of actuating an electrical switching device to be described hereinafter. To the rear of the inturned lip and forward of the collar 56, the sleeve 50 is given a non-circular conformation 06, preferably a hexagonal contour, so that it may be gripped by a tool, such as a socket wrench, to apply rotative vtorque thereto for turning the sleeve 50 about the'extension 46 of the shaft i4. The rearward end of thesleeve 50 adjacent the nut 68 is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed teeth 88, which are adapted to cooperate with a pair of diametrically disposed kerfs formed in the inturned lip 'I4 of the nut 68, so that when the teeth 88 are engaged with the kerfs 90 by leftward movement of the sleeve 50, a turning moment can be transferred to the nut 68 by the use of a tool engaging the hex 86 on the forward end of the sleeve 50. In this manner, the nut -68 can be advanced or retarded on the threaded portion 44 of the shaft |4 to control the tension of the spring 64 and thereby to control the speed of rotation at which the centrifugal action on the weights 60 is sufcient to overcome the spring 64 and allow movement of the sleeve 50. The nut 68 can be advanced and retarded between the limits set by plate 24 and stop sleeve 48.

In order to allow ingress and egress of air into the interior of the elongated sleeve 50toobviate a dash-pot action, a small aperture 92 is provided therein, preferably adjacent the hexagonal portion 06. This allows air to flow readily into and out of the trapped air space in the sleeve as the sleeve is moved forwardly and backwardly during use.

As the sleeve 50 is moved either by the centrifugal action of the weights during rotation or by the spring reaction, the button 18 moves therewith and this longitudinal movement actuates a switching device 94 which is xedly attached to a flanged cover 96 attached to the lip |0A of the cup I0 by means of screws 98 threaded vinto the enlarged lip. A gasket |00 is positioned therebetween to provide a seal when the screws 98 are pulled down. The switching device 94 may takemany different forms, depending upon the function which it is to have in cooperating devices, which are to be controlled by the centrifugal device already described. The device shown in the drawings is a single pole, normallyopen lswitch which will close at the predetermined speed of rotation. Contacts |02 are provided, one of which is mounted in the well known manner on a plate |04 and insulated therefrom. The movable contact is mounted on a yoke |06 pivoted at I 08 and actuated by an overcenter device comprising a spring i0 attached at one end'to the web I l2 of the yoke |06 and at the other end to a T-shaped actuator ||4 which is pivoted at its head ||6 on plate |04 to hold the spring ||0 undei tension. The plate |04 is mounted on the cover 96 by spotwelding or riveting, the plate being bumped out to form a bay ||'8 to provide the necessary clearance. A binding .post |20 is provided in the cover to allow convenient elec-` trical connection with the switching 'device` 94. as is well understood in the art. The overcenter devicefor actuating the switching device is4 deassale@ sirable to give a snap action thereto to avoidptting and burning of the contact points |02.l

In the modification shown in Fig. II, instead of carefully sealing the casing I as is accomplished in the modification shown in Fig. I, the switching device is here placed in a separate sealed chamber separated from the cup-shapedv casing by a thin flexible cloth diaphragm |32, which has its periphery strengthened by having riveted thereto an annulus |34. The diaphragm is sealed to a cover member |738 by gasket |38 when pulled down tight against the lip IDA of the casing by screws |49 spaced equally about' the periphery.

In general, the construction follows that disclosed in Fig. I, except that the adjusting device for the loading spring is not included. A similar casing |42 is provided having the driving shaft |44 journaled in its bottom by bearing sleeve |45. Transverse plate |48 is brazed to the shaft at the shoulder |56 and the cup-shaped rotating member |52 is attached by its lip to the periphery of the plate |48 in the manner already described. Similarv centrifugal weights |53, preferably eight in number, of sector shape are fitted into the rotating member |52 and fulcrumed for movement about an inturned flange |54 on the rotating member |52. A stop for the weights is provided to cooperate at the terminal end of the weights in the form' of a small, cup-shaped member |55 fitted on a turned down portion of the shaft |44 adjacent the transverse plate |48, the weights contacting the lip of this member to limit their inward movement, created by a helical spring |56 seated in the inside of the member |55, thrusting against a slidable sleeve |58 fitted to a cylindrical section |55 of the shaft |44. The distal end of the spring |56 thrusts against a collar 6| on the exterior of the sleeve |53, the thrust being transmitted to the vweights by a star spring |52 loosely centered on the opposite face of the collar |59. This force'acting on the weights tends to move the weights about their fulcrum on the flange |54 to bring their terminal ends against the member |55.

The slidable sleeve is provided with a vent hole |64 and also with a carbon or resin button |66 held against a steel plate |68 on an internall shoulder HE by inturned lip |12. The button' |66 contacts a plate |14 riveted on the lower side of the diaphragm |32, another plate |16 being provided on the opposite side. In this way, the movement of the slidable sleeve |58, under the centrifugal action of the weights allows the diaphragm |32 to relax but when the rotation slows or stops, the loading spring |56 reverses the action and the diaphragm is moved again to loaded or defiected initial condition. a'

The switching device|30 has itsz-pivoted actuating member |18 provided with an insulated button |8|lhwhich contacts the central plate |16 on the diaphragm |32, so that it moves therewith to actuate the overcenter device comprising4 yoke |82 and springA |84. Movable contact |8,6is attachedA to lthe yoke |82 and cooperates with fixed contact |88 to provide one type of switching device, which it is to be understood may vary widely. These elements cooperate with a plate |90 which is spot-welded to the cover |36 adjacent its periphery. A binding post |92 is Drovided in the well known manner to make electrical connections with extraneous electrical circuits.

The casing |42 is provided with spaced vent holes |94 which are covered with a felt washer |96 to act as a fitting vmeans which is held in position by a perforated annular plate |98 pressfitted into a stepped undercut 20B of the casing |42.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit 'of the invention. The language f used in the specication relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the' following claims beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed:

1. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cuphaving a perforated bottom, means to support the cup for rotation, sectional weights mounted in the cup for rotation therewith and free to rotate separately within the cup, fulcrum means for the weights adjacent the bottom thereof at the inner periphery of the cup, resilient means concentric with the axis of rotation cooperating with the weights and adapted to be moved along the axis of rotation by the centrifugal force active onl the weights during rotation thereof acting through said fulorum means, adjustable spring means to bias the resilient means to an initial position, sleeve means cooperating with said resilient means to perform a function to be controlled by said centrifugal force active on said weights, said sleeve means being adapted for manual manipulation, andl means acting between the sleeve means andnthe adjustable spring means when the sleeveisx'ia' ually manipulatd to vary the bias of the adjustable spring means.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatable cup having a perforated bottom, means to support the cup for rotation, sectional weights mountedL in the cup for rotation therewith and free to rotate separately within the cup, fulcrum means for the weights adjacent the bottom thereof at the inner periphery of the cup, movable means concentric with the axis of rotation cooperating with the weights and adapted to be moved along the axis of rotation by the cen-` trifugal force active on the weights during rotation thereof acting through said fulcrum means, adjustable spring means to bias the movable means to an initial position, and means adapted to be actuated by the longitudinal movement of the movable means, and means cooperating with the movable means to interlock with the adjustable spring means adapted for manual manipulation to adjust the spring means to vary` the bias of the movable means. v j

3. In a device of the class described,arotatable cupv havingaperforated bottom, means to sup-l port the cup for rotation, sectional weights 

